Well folks, another year has gone by and time once again to make some Thanksgiving wine recommendations.

Thanksgiving pairings can be somewhat challenging given the variety of different dishes on the table. However, this makes for a good reason to get an assortment of wines (this can help with the relatives also).

Thanksgiving wines can run the gamut from sparkling to white, rosé, and red. Here, I’ll focus on rosé and red wines. In terms of rosés, I always recommend staying on the dry side. The Barnard Griffin 2009 Rose of Sangiovese ($12) is just the ticket for the holiday. The wine is visually appealing in the bottle with a light cherry red color. In the glass, it is loaded with fresh fruit flavors and has mouthwatering acidity.

In terms of reds, I generally recommend going with lighter bodied wines with a lot of fresh fruit and that hasn’t seen a whole lot of oak. I would also recommend staying away from wines that are strongly tannic.

Pinot Noir is always a Thanksgiving favorite. While this grape has somewhat bedeviled Washington winemakers, two I recommend for the holiday are the Syncline Wine Cellars 2008 Columbia Gorge Pinot Noir ($28) – which I believe to be the standard bearer for Washington Pinot – and Kyra Wines 2008 Pinot Noir ($18).

Two other wines from these wineries also deserve a place at this year’s Thanksgiving table. The first is a perennial favorite, the Syncline Cellars Subduction Red ($18). The 2009 offering is a Mourvedre-heavy Southern Rhone blend. The second is Kyra Wines 2009 Dolcetto ($18). A native grape to the Piedmont area, this is again a fresh fruit driven wine. I recommend serving the latter on the cooler side around 62 degrees.

If you’ve already got your wines all picked out for the occasion, leave a comment and let me know what you’ll be having.

Working ours like a bit of a tasting event. Some variety with the whites, although featuring exclusively Rhone red varietals including Cass Rockin' One, rhone blend from Paso Robles. A special blend that must be tried! Tough to do though, as I think it sells out on futures each yr.

OMG -- Almost forgot to mention: our special thxgiving feature is Cran du Lait from Shallon Winery in Astoria, OR. Visited the unassuming fruit winery last summer and it is a must see! Everything from a dry blackberry wine to a sensuous chocolate orange treat that will spark a fire on any cold night! Lemon and peach wines are a few others, so plan a stop next time near Astoria! www.shallon.com